If a party is consistently a close third or even second in some opinion polls, the media HAS to cover them more. Not only to be representative, but also to scrutinise.
It's an online petition. If petitions actually had the power to change anything, they wouldn't let you sign them. The response will always be some mealy-mouthed rubbish.
Frankly, this isn't anything to do with the government anyway, nor should they be getting involved.